Members of the Kent State University Community:
On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, we would like to express our appreciation for your thoughtful input as we begin the active phase of our national search for Kent State’s next president. Through a series of open meetings and an online survey, we have received nearly 500 comments and suggestions articulating the strengths and characteristics you believe are most important in our next president.
Your input has been instrumental in the development of a presidential position profile, a compelling overview of our university’s distinctiveness, momentum, opportunities and challenges. As we introduce Kent State to potential candidates, we hope to attract a dynamic, strategic and collaborative leader who embodies the university’s core values and shares our Students First commitment. You have made it clear that Kent State needs a visionary leader who can accelerate our great momentum and continue Kent State’s rise among top-tier national research universities. By design, we are casting a wide net to seek out and attract highly qualified, diverse individuals who are motivated to lead our university to even greater achievement.
To successfully recruit the best president for Kent State, we need your active engagement in identifying candidates you believe have the qualities and qualifications you have identified as critical to our success. We encourage you to suggest potential candidates who will reflect Kent State’s core values and our commitment to diversity and inclusion, even if you are unsure whether they may be open to considering a new opportunity.
We invite you to submit nominations to our search consultants, Jett Pihakis and Meredith Rosenberg, at KentState.President@russellreynolds.com.
We welcome and encourage your continued involvement and input throughout the search and transition of our new leader. Our online survey will remain open and you are invited to share comments and suggestions at any time using the email address presidentialsearch@kent.edu.
Again, our sincere thanks to each of you for your continued support in recruiting the next president of Kent State University.
Sincerely,
Shawn M. Riley, '83
Chair, Presidential Search Committee